Dujkovic wants to lead China to 2010 World Cup

China's Olympic coach Ratomir Dujkovic wants to take over the country's senior squad after next year's Beijing Games, according to local media.

Zhu Guanghu, who presided over a dismal Asian Cup campaign, has not yet left the post but the Chinese Football Association (CFA) is reported to have already started searching for a new man to take the team through the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

"If I can achieve a satisfactory result for everybody at the Olympics, I would like to coach the senior team to the South Africa World Cup," sina.com quoted the Serbian as telling the media in the northeastern city Shenyang.

Having led Ghana to the knockout stages of the 2006 World Cup finals, Dujkovic is amply qualified.

The CFA, however, might not be prepared to wait until next August as their World Cup qualification campaign is likely to begin in February.

"I think to guide China's top national squad is a dream and glory for a coach, but as the Olympic team coach I will take the Olympic team as first priority," Dujkovic said.

Dujkovic's team is joining Botswana, Japan, and North Korea for a four-nation invitational tournament in Shenyang this week and the 61-year-old said his aim was to win, as it would be next August in Beijing.

"My aim is the Olympic gold medal," he said.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/02/2007 page22)